Have you ever had something bad happen that turned out to be something good? I think the term is “blessing in disguise.” We’ve probably all heard the story of the family who was ready to set sail for America from overseas. They had saved and planned for the trip for a long time, and then at the last minute, one of the children got sick and they couldn’t go. They were devastated and even questioned God. And then a few days later, they were thanking God for the sickness.
Why would they thank God for a sickness? Because the name of the ship they were supposed to sail on was the Titanic. Something that seemed horrible turned out to be very, very good.
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. (Luke 2:1-6)
It was foretold that Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Joseph and Mary were from Nazareth, so how could that be? It was because the government of the day decreed that all the world would be taxed. Because of this tax, Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem, and Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Prophecy fulfilled.
I wonder how many people complained about that particular governmental decision. “What? We have to travel to where? When? And they want to TAX us even more? Aren’t we already taxed enough?”
But things were truly not just as they seemed. There was more to it than they could see at face value. It was that very decision to tax the people that led to fulfillment of prophecy about the first coming of Jesus.
From then on Jesus began to tell his disciples plainly that it was necessary for him to go to Jerusalem, and that he would suffer many terrible things at the hands of the elders, the leading priests, and the teachers of religious law. He would be killed, but on the third day he would be raised from the dead. But Peter took him aside and began to reprimand him for saying such things. “Heaven forbid, Lord,” he said. “This will never happen to you!” Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get away from me, Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s.” (Matthew 16:21-23)
Jesus was talking to his disciples here, and he foretold that He would go to the cross. It was necessary, right? It was the plan of God, right? We can see that in hindsight, but not everyone agreed with Him. In fact, Peter vehemently opposed that plan. And Jesus said something to him that I have thought about over and over and over. “You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God’s point of view.”
And then I thought…what am I seeing merely from a human point of view and not from God’s point of view? I have faced some things in life that made me think, “Why, God, why?” And then as time goes on, He works it into something even more beautiful.
Like when I was 37 weeks pregnant with my daughter. I had a job working from home for missionaries, and they needed to move their office. I lost my job. I was devastated. I mean, who is going to hire someone 37 weeks pregnant? At first, I questioned God. That was a good deal. I had to work, but I got to work at home and be with my kids. I didn’t have any idea how it could get better than that.
But it did. He worked it out that for a long season, I didn’t have to work. And then I just had a small part-time job that didn’t take any time away from the kids. At first I didn’t see how He could make it better than what I had lost, but He did! He’s amazing!
Sometimes he takes us through things…difficult things…things we just don’t understand, but He has a plan all along. Nobody probably saw at the time that the tax would fulfill prophecy. The disciples didn’t understand how the cross could be good. I didn’t see how losing my job could be a good thing, but God had something better in mind.
No matter what situations life throws at us, we need to go to Him with it and ask for His perspective. We don’t want to see things merely from a human point of view. We want to see things through His eyes because He has a plan. He really will work all things together for our good if we trust Him.